Find Out the Only Surviving First Leader of the Takarazuka Revue, Who Cried in the Shower Because of Her Frustration

The reality is that taking on the role of a group leader = putting yourself on the back burner.

The work of a group leader is quite busy. From attending the regular group leader meetings held in the company’s conference room, to always being the first to arrive backstage and make preparations, to giving stage greetings on the first day of performances, at the final performance, and at private performances, to asking injured or sick performers to take a day off and arranging for understudies, to assigning dorm rooms, requesting the purchase of a broken washing machine, and consulting with underclassmen about their problems, the work of the group leader is quite busy. He also does everything from helping to find a dorm room or purchase a broken washing machine, to consulting with underclassmen on any problems they may have. Naturally, this puts a lid on his performance as a performer. If the top stars are the front billboards, the group leaders are the back billboards, so to speak. When the troupe told him that he had to cut back on the number of scenes he appeared in because of the hard work involved in being the head of a troupe, he said he had very mixed feelings.

He said, “I have to take care of myself later. I also had to make rules for the space troupe, so I asked two members from each of the other troupes I had belonged to to meet every day after rehearsals. The rule that male actors, in particular, were not allowed to sit in costume was adopted by the Hoshigumi and the Tsukinigumi, and was also adopted by the Space Troupe in order for the audience to see the show in the best possible light. There were all kinds of little jobs, but it was all for the success of the company.

Sometimes he had to take on the role of the hated. There were many painful experiences. One day, one of the underclassmen asked for advice. He said that a staff member’s behavior during a performance made it difficult for him to concentrate on the play. Omine, who believed that it was the role of the group leader to deliver the best possible performance to the audience, asked the staff to be considerate of the situation. Then, for the next few days, he was ignored by all the staff. It was a very difficult situation to work in.

Even now, I don’t believe that the junior members lied to me, but if things continue like this, it will be a problem for everyone in the company. I felt I had no choice but to break down, so I went to apologize. After that, I was no longer ignored, but I was so frustrated with …… that I cried in the shower.

In addition to her performing activities, Ms. Omine now works as a communication advisor, offering lessons called “Kumicho-san’s Terakoya Method,” which combines the aesthetics of Takarazuka and communication techniques. He also conducts seminars for business people to improve their performance skills and lectures on how to speak.

He says, “It is common in both Takarazuka and the business world that subordinates follow their superiors by watching their backs, but in order to do so, they need to make an effort to create a back that they can show. Subordinates grow up by watching their bosses’ backs, and that in itself is rare today. Instead of showing them a back that gives up from the beginning and says, “I’m going to go to …… anyway,” we need to show them an attitude that will not waver. If even one person will follow you, it is worth continuing that attitude. When I talk about this, many businessmen who listen to my speeches nod their heads.”

When Mr. Omine assumed the position of group leader, some of the upperclassmen found him uninteresting, but when he left the troupe, those upperclassmen said to him, “You did a good job. The communication and leadership skills he mastered in the unique world of the Takarazuka Revue Company will benefit many people throughout the ages and in all fields.

◆Details of the live performance on March 20

◆Mayu Omine official site